Posted under:
Dog GroomingSUPPLIES
- Magnifying glass
- Borax
- Garlic salt
- Dish detergent
- Water
- Fabric softener
- Aloe vera
- Honey
- Oatmeal
- Milk
- Compress
Overview
A dog's coat can become dull and lifeless whenever itchy, dry skin is involved. On top of the drastic change in his coat, your dog may also be miserable trying to scratch away the irritation he doesn't understand. While veterinarians often have products that can help whatever ails a pet, the products can be quite expensive. In a lot of cases, things that can be found around the home may be just as effective in solving the problem, all at a cost that is more affordable.
Step 1
Try to determine the cause for the itching skin. Begin by eliminating possible flea, tick or other insect bites by carefully going over every inch of the dog's coat with a magnifying glass. If there are no fleas, ticks, or obvious insect bites, move on to the next step.
Step 2
Examine the skin to determine what might be causing the itch. Red blotchy skin or mild rashes could indicate an environmental concern or an allergic reaction. Scaly, flaking skin could indicate a problem with products used on the dog's coat, his diet or something that he comes in contact with on a regular basis. Eliminate any problems that can be easily eliminated.
Step 3
Eliminate flea problems by treating carpets and dog bedding with powered Borax. Sprinkle the product wherever it is needed and allow it to be absorbed into the items for about twenty minutes. Then shake out the items or vacuum up the excess powder.
Step 4
Sprinkle a small amount of garlic salt into your dog's food. Although it will be absorbed into the body, it will leave behind just enough odor to keep away fleas, ticks, and other insects that are normally drawn to dogs.
Step 5
Bathe the dog in regular dish detergent, letting it sit in place for five to ten minutes before rinsing. Dish detergent isn't as strong or as harmful as typical flea and tick shampoos, and yet works just as well in many instances.
Step 6
Use a gentle fabric softener such as Downy to sooth mildly irritated dog skin after bathing. Work the product through the coat and rinse out the excess.
Step 7
Rub natural aloe vera on a dog's itchy, dry skin. It will soothe the irritation as it helps to take care of most minor abrasive problems.
Step 8
Rub honey onto a dog's skin abrasions. It will kill any bacteria attempting to grow there, while also soothing and moistening the skin.
Step 9
Make an oatmeal paste from oatmeal flakes and milk. Spread it onto skin that has a red irritated rash. Let it sit on the area for between fifteen and thirty minutes and rinse away with cool water.
Step 10
Apply cool compresses regularly to a pet's sunburn or heat rash. It will help keep the dog from scratching and making the irritation worse while soothing dry, irritated skin.
Resources
